MotoGP
There’s a new cowboy in town. DRC’s MotoGP Americas GP review
Maverick shines as Ducati disappoints, here’s how the weekend unfolded

The Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas was a thrilling spectacle, with new names emerging, old names making a comeback, and records being shattered. The Circuit of the Americas was the stage for all the action, and here’s a recap of the heart-pounding events that unfolded.
BatMav’s Comeback
Maverick Vinales was a man on the mission. After his DNF in the previous round, it was a picture-perfect weekend for Vinales. On Saturday, he secured the pole at 2:00.864, smashing the all-time lap record around COTA. He conquered COTA on Saturday by winning the sprint race and was all set to do the treble on Sunday. The lights went out in Texas, and instead of a rocket launch from the pole, Viñales suffered a dismal holeshot. Dropping to a lowly 11th on the first lap, the unthinkable seemed a possibility, but the Spaniard didn’t give up and started his comeback. He started picking up off riders with precision, and Viñales clawed his way back into contention. By mid-race, he was breathing down the leaders’ necks, and on Lap 13, the unthinkable became reality. Viñales snatched the lead and never looked back, crossing the line as a dominant victor.
This win etched Viñales’ name in MotoGP™ history as the first rider to win races with three manufacturers – Suzuki, Yamaha, and now Aprilia.

Ducati’s Dynasty in Doubt?
The Ducati, the bike to beat on every circuit, faced an unexpected challenge in the Texas heat. While Enea Bastianini secured a valiant podium finish after a late charge, the factory machines of Jorge Martin and Pecco Bagnaia were left wanting. Martin, the championship leader, struggled for grip. In a surprising twist, Martin fell off the podium place and finished in p4 while Bagnaia finished p5. This unexpected turn of events raises the question Is this a one-off blip or are there some serious concerns in the box of the reigning champions?

The Shark Attack:
It is safe to say that Pedro Acosta is delivering on the hype that was created around him. He secured a place on the front row in P2. Pedro got a good start on the line and even led the race. Acosta had proper battles with Jorge Martin and Marc Marquez, eventually ending up on the podium in P2 behind Vianles. Acosta’s performance solidified his status as a future star in MotoGP™. His race craft is beyond his years, and his ability to adapt to different tracks is truly impressive. It’s safe to say we can expect to see much more from “The Shark” in the upcoming races.

Marquez’s Mishap
The ever-dramatic Marc Marquez had the crowd on the edge of their seats. Leading the race at times. The “Comeback King” looked poised to battle for the podium, showcasing his trademark aggression and never-say-die attitude. However, disaster struck Lap 18 as Marquez lost the front end and tumbled out of contention, shattering his hopes for a win or even a podium.
Marquez post race –
“I’m more disappointed because today the speed was there, the feeling was there, but I had unexpected problems with the front brake during all the race that gave me a lot of difficulties to ride”

Are Aprilia and KTM Back in the Mix?
This year, we saw a significant improvement in KTMs. They have a new carbon fiber chassis that is performing brilliantly, as seen in the Qatar GP and the Portuguese GP. COTA offered a different image, with only Pedro Acosta and his GASGAS KTM machine in the top five; the next KTM rider, Brad Binder, finished ninth. Jack Miller finished slightly behind Binder in the Portuguese GP and 13th in the COTA.
Aprilla is another team that has improved with time. Maverick Vinales leads the charge for Noale Factory. Despite Vinales’ crash at the Portuguese Grand Prix, Aprilla had a decent weekend. Vinales piloting his Aprilia was unstoppable at COTA. Aleix has struggled to equal Vinales, but he is not far.

Yamaha and Honda: Lost at Sea?
Yamaha fans were happy to see Fabio Quartararo in Yamaha overalls for two more years but would not be happy with Yamaha’s performance despite his hefty new contract. He could only manage a 12th in COTA, while on the other side of the box, Alex Rins suffered a DNF in the race. The horror for Honda continues as they scored ZERO points this weekend; only Luca Marini finished the race for Honda. Taka Nakagami, Johann Zarca and Joan Mir all DNF.
Nakagami post race said :
“It’s such a tough moment,” he admitted. “I didn’t expect this pretty bad moment.
“And nobody can solve the problem, nobody can improve it. I don’t know.
“Nothing to say at the moment. I’m disappointed about the performance of… everything… The bike… We are slower than last year.
“This is absolutely impossible to understand.”
With both factories lagging, the question remains: can Yamaha and Honda find the answers to bridge the gap to the frontrunners?
One thing’s for sure the 2024 MotoGP™ season has taken a dramatic turn. Buckle up, because the upcoming races promise to be a nail-biting rollercoaster ride.
MotoGP
MotoGP British GP: Bezzecchi Capitalizes as Quatraro’s Search for a Win Continues
Marco Bezzecchi makes the most of Fabio Quartararo’s misfortunes as he takes the win in MotoGP British GP.

Fabio Quartararo did something that many thought would be impossible at the start of the year: he scored a hat-trick of pole positions riding the Factory Yamaha bike. However, he is yet to convert it into a victory. Despite starting 6 races from the front (3 Grand Prix and 3 Sprints), he is yet to stand on the top step of the podium. Meanwhile, Marco Bezzecchi made the most of Quartararo’s misfortune to take his first win of the season.
Read More: MotoGP 2025: Riders brace for unpredictable weather at Silverstone
Hattricks of Poles and a Brace of DNFs for Quartararo
When the season started, anyone, even Fabio for that matter, would not have expected to get 3 back-to-back pole positions on his Factory Yamaha, a bike that has not been the most competitive in the recent past. But to his surprise, and everyone else’s, Fabio put in a storming lap to go 3 tenths clear of the rest of the field and get his third Pole Position of the season. But, as fate would have it, he also scored a back-to-back DNF in the Grand Prix.
In Silverstone, it was looking good for the Frenchman, as he was leading the race ahead of Bezzecchi, but a ride height issue in the middle of the race forced the Yamaha rider to retire from the race. He tried half a lap to fix the issue, but to no success.
Bezzecchi Gets His First Win of The Season
Starting from 11th on the grid, not a lot of people would have had Marco Bezzecchi on their cards to win the British Grand Prix. But the Aprilia rider slowly and steadily picked off riders one by one to climb up to second position, and when Quartararo’s misfortunes hit, Bezzecchi was at the perfect place to make the most of it and cross the finish line in first.
A season with lacklustre results for the Italian driver, this win would do him a world of good. Before this race, his best finish was 6th; now the win has shot him to 7th in the standings.

Another Weekend of Struggle for the Factory Ducati
Riding on a wave of success at the start of the season, the Factory Ducatis have been struggling of late. Marc Marquez is no longer the dominating force, as he has lost out on Pole Position in the last 3 races, and in the most recent one, he wasn’t even on the front row. Marquez has still managed to salvage the Sprint races, winning every single one of them this year except the one on British GP Saturday, where he finished second to his brother Alex Marquez. Meanwhile Francesco Bagnaia crashed out of the race after struggling throughout and dropping down the order before he went down.
Marquez struggled throughout this weekend, this has been a circuit where he does not go well historically either. His qualifying run put him on the second row in P4, Sprint was better as he managed to finish P2. The struggle paused for 2 laps at the start of the main race, where he took the lead of the race, before eventually crashing out of the race. A red flag due the another incident further meant the race would be restarted, but even then Marquez could only manage P3, after he dropped down the order outside the Top 10, then made a recovery ride to finish on the podium.
Back-to-Back Grand Prix Podiums for Zarco and Honda
Johann Zarco has been having a very underrated season this year. The last 2 races specifically, the French rider has managed to put the Honda on the top step of the podium in Le Mans and in second place in Silverstone. Throughout this season, Zarco has only been out of the points in one race. He currently sits fifth in the Riders’ standings with 97 points; for comparison, the next Honda rider is Luca Marini on 38 points in 13th.

Championship Standings
As things stand, the Marquez brothers still sit at the top of the standings with Marc ahead of Alex by 24 points.
Up Next for MotoGP
After a small break, MotoGP will now head to Aragon for Round 8 of the world championship from 6-8 June.
Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.
MotoGP
MotoGP 2025 : Riders brace for unpredictable weather at Silverstone
Marc Marquez goes in with the largest championship lead so far this season at a track which has historically been a beacon of unpredictability.

The British GP, held at Silverstone since its conception, has historically been one of the most unpredictable races. Just in the past 10 years, 10 different riders have won the race at Silverstone. And the unpredictable British weather plays a large part in this. Heading into one of the most dramatic tracks on the calendar, the riders brace for unpredictable challenges, and unexpected contenders may emerge. Join us as we go over everything you need to know before the lights go off in Britain.
Read More: Johann Zarco takes the home race victory at Le Mans
Marc Márquez seeks to secure sophomore success at Silverstone

At this point, the preview section regarding Marc is gradually becoming a parody of itself. Marc is undoubtedly the best rider on the grid currently, and he is in his best form. It is undeniable that he will perform well.
However, Silverstone has not been Marc’s strongest suit. He has only managed to win one race here, all the way back in 2014. The closest he has gotten since is getting second place in 2019 in one of the closest races in MotoGP history, where he was barely edged out by Alex Rins on the final turn.
Now, Marc seeks to secure a second victory at this classic circuit. And as long as he manages to keep his motorcycle upright, there is no one who can prevent him. Or is there?
The Silverstone Dark Horses
Silverstone is used to throwing curveballs – once in a blue moon, an incredibly unexpected rider steps up out of nowhere and manages to clench the victory.

Just last year, as the title fight between Martin and Bagnaia was heating up, Enea Bastianini somehow swooped in and secured his first and only win of the 2024 season. However, now that Bastianini has moved to KTM, who are admittedly trying their best to improve, the chances that Enea could be a contender for the British GP are slim.

Similarly, in 2023, the British GP was won by none other than Aleix Espargaro. In fact, Aleix was one of only two non-Ducati riders to win that season, the other being Alex Rins. Aleix will be making an appearance in 2025 as a wildcard on the Honda. Even though Zarco managed to take the French GP for Honda, Zarco’s victory was by virtue of strategy rather than machinery or skill. Hence, Espargaro being a serious contender for the victory is also a pipe dream, but it is more realistic than Bastianini.

And then we have Alex Rins. The winner of the 2019 British GP. Arguably, the most exciting race in the past decade. Rins, in a display of pure skill, was battling with Márquez up until the very last corner of the very last lap, taking the chequered flag with a lead of mere 0.013 seconds.
However, since then, a lot has changed for Rins. Multiple crashes and injuries, plus moves to inferior teams and unreliable machinery, have left him in a sticky predicament. While he has the skill, he lacks the support from his team or from his own injured body. While Rins has managed to win in a glorious manner in the past, it is nigh impossible that he stands a chance this year.

Finally, we have Fabio Quartararo. The 2020 world champion has had his ups and downs over the past few years, but he finally appears to have found his groove, with back-to-back pole positions. Having already won at Silverstone in 2021, all El Diablo has to do is find a way to convert his qualifying speed into race pace, and he could be a very serious contender.
Bagnaia confesses troubles with Ducati machinery

The 2025 season has been a tragedy so far for two-time world champion Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia. He is currently trailing 51 points behind the championship leader in third place. After his sudden drop in pace last weekend, Pecco has finally admitted to having troubles with the front end of the bike, quote “It’s true I’ve been struggling with this bike […]”
This should be an early warning to Ducati not to make the same mistakes as those who came before them. Back in the days of Honda/Márquez dominance, Honda was incredibly determined to build the best motorcycle for Márquez. However, their focus on catering to one star rider resulted in them making a motorcycle that could not be operated by anyone besides Márquez. Ultimately, this led to Honda’s downfall. Ducati must take feedback from all their riders, championship leaders or not, to prevent suffering the same fate.
Championship Standings
Following are the championship standings going into the British GP :
Schedule and Where to watch
All MotoGP sessions can be watched in India on Fancode (digital) or on Eurosport (TV broadcast).
Following is the complete schedule of the MotoGP race weekend in IST:
Read more posts on MotoGP here.
Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.
MotoGP
MotoGP 2025 : Johann Zarco takes the home race victory at Le Mans
Both the Frenchmen have a magnificent home race, with Quartararo taking pole for second time in a row, and Zarco taking the big victory in MotoGP.

The French GP, held at the Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans, was a glorious flag-to-flag spectacle for anyone to behold. Honda and Yamaha both stepped up their game to support two of their riders in their home race. Meanwhile, the ever-dominant Marc Márquez sets new records, extending his unbroken sprint winning streak. Join us as we review, session by session, the spectacle of the French GP.
Read more: Title fight heats up as the paddock heads to Le Mans
Weather Causes Chaos before Race Start
The rainy weather of Le Mans caused chaos in the GP before it even started. On the Warm Up Lap, most riders set off on slick tires on a wet track. Evidently this was a bad choice as almost everyone ran wide going into the first chicane, and Fabio Quartararo almost crashed out 3/4ths of the way into the lap.
SAVED IT on the warm up lap 🤯#FrenchGP 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/XzkjluiDk9
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 11, 2025
The race got white flagged, and every single rider decided to go to the pit lane to swap bikes. Now, because too many riders were to start from the pit lane, the race got red-flagged as a whole and got delayed.
Furthermore, after the race restart, some riders, including the Márquez brothers, decided to pit again after the second warmup to swap back to slicks. Because the pit lane was closed, these riders were imposed with a double-long lap penalty.
Marc Márquez Regains his Championship Lead

After Marc’s unfortunate crash in Jerez, he lost the championship lead to his younger brother Álex. However, going into France, Marc was determined to regain his championship lead, and he ultimately succeeded in this endeavour.
Having qualified in P2 just behind Quartararo, Marc’s start to the sprint was rather uneventful. However, within just a couple of laps, he engaged in an aggressive back-and-forth with race leader Quartararo and managed to snatch the lead from him. He proceeded to cruise to victory in typical Marc Márquez fashion. With this sprint win, Marc has set a new record by winning six consecutive sprint races.
During the Grand Prix, however, things went a little differently for Marc. Because he went into the pit lane after the race restart, he was imposed with a double long lap penalty. Furthermore, Marc came into the pits for a third time to switch bikes again. Amidst this chaos, he lost a lot of positions, going down all the way to P7 at one point. He did make a recovery, amidst other riders also changing bikes or serving penalties, and ultimately finished the race in P2.
Fabio Quartararo’s Stellar Performance at Le Mans
The past couple of years have not been kind to Frenchman Fabio Quartararo. Complacency in development from Yamaha, along with a lack of support from his team, had placed Fabio as a mid-pack rider at best in the past few seasons. However, in these recent couple of races, Fabio has been making a recovery, from his pole position at Jerez, to finishing on the podium there. And he seems determined to keep pushing on.
At Le Mans, Fabio qualified in pole position, setting a time faster than the likes of Marc Márquez. During the sprint race, he had a stellar start and held his own. He did eventually get overtaken by Marc and a few others, and finished the race just short of a podium in P4.
During the Grand Prix, however, Fabio’s fortunes soured. Early on, his bike showed signs of instability, and in the midst of the early-to-mid race chaos, Fabio crashed out after a collision with Binder, ending his dreams of a victory on home soil.
Johann Zarco Knocks it Out of The Park

Zarco was heading into the French GP with big expectations. Being the best rider on a Honda currently, he was already in talks with the manufacturer, who was considering pulling him off the satellite LCR team and putting him on the factory team. And after his triumph, he has almost guaranteed himself that factory seat.
Zarco’s sprint was uneventful at best. He started from P11 and managed to claw his way up to P6. However, he really shone in the Grand Prix. Having made a better strategic decision on the tires as compared to the other riders, combined with not having to suffer a double long lap penalty, firmly placed Zarco in the lead, and he finished almost 20 seconds ahead of the runner-up Marc Márquez. With this victory, Zarco ends a 71-year drought, becoming the first French rider to win the French GP since 1954.
BACKFLIP TIME AT HOME 🤸 @johannzarco1 #FrenchGP 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/PGeon2BDEq
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 11, 2025
Rookie Aldeguer finally finds his element

For the past few seasons in Moto2, Fermín Aldeguer was one of the most promising riders on the grid. That is why Ducati signed a contract with him at the beginning of the 2024 season. However, the move to the premier class has not been sunshine and rainbows for Aldeguer. For the first few races, he struggled to even make points.
However, Aldeguer had an awe-inspiring performance in Le Mans. He qualified in P4, just behind Quartararo and the Márquez brothers. During the sprint, he had a glorious battle with Quartararo for P3, which earned him his first sprint podium.
The Grand Prix was no different. Aldeguer held his own amidst the chaos, and he briefly managed to become the race leader for a lap. Ultimately, he finished the race in P3 after a glorious battle with Pedro Acosta, earning his first full race podium in the same weekend. Because of this, he overtook Ai Ogura as the best-performing rookie this season. Hopefully, we get to see similar performances from Aldeguer in the near future.
Highlights of the French GP
The following are some moments in the weekend that I consider particularly exciting :
- Marc vs Quartararo battle for the lead in the sprint
- Fermin Aldegeur vs Quartararo battle for third in sprint
- Race start chaos in the Grand Prix
- Quartararo vs Marc battle for the lead in the Grand Prix
- Aldeguer vs Acosta battle for P3 in Grand Prix
Championship Standings
Read more posts on MotoGP here.
Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.
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